Laser Golf Putter Equipped With Power Saving Module And Method For Reducing Power Thereof

ABSTRACT

Disclosed are a laser golf putter equipped with a power saving module and a method for reducing power thereof. The laser golf putter includes a golf putter (100) equipped with a putter head (10) at the bottom of a putter shaft, a laser pointer (20) provided in the putter head (10) to emit a laser beam (R1) not identified with a naked eye, a golf ball sensor (30) provided in the putter head (10) to detect a golf ball (40) in front of the putter head, and a switching controller (230) configured to control the driving of the laser pointer (20) in response to the detection of the golf ball sensor (30). The switching controller (230) turns off the laser pointer (20) after a lapse of a set time in a state in which the laser pointer is an ON state when the golf ball (40) is identified.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Technical Field

The present invention relates to a laser golf putter equipped with a power saving module and a method for reducing power thereof and, more particularly, to a laser golf putter and a method for reducing power thereof, wherein a point indicated by a laser is indicated at the top of a golf ball and a target of the golf ball or on a ground in a moving path toward the target, and power consumption of a laser pointer applied to the golf putter is reduced.

2. Description of the Related Art

In general, in order to well set the directivity of golf putting (hereinafter referred to as “putting”), a straight line (or reference line) is drawn on a golf ball using a permanent pen.

Furthermore, some golf ball manufacturers sell golf balls on which lines or arrows are printed for a directivity reference.

Accordingly, a caddie or a golfer makes the reference line of a golf ball identical with a hole direction, makes the middle of a putter identical with the reference line of the golf ball, and then performs a putting stroke.

In order to show that the reference line of a golf ball is made identical with the middle of a putter, a golf putter manufacturer engraves one or two or three white points or lines in the middle of the putter so that the middle of a putter head is adjusted in a straight line with respect to the reference line of the golf ball.

However, the probability that directivity is set so that the middle of the putter is identical with the reference line of the golf ball is low. Accordingly, a putter manufacturer has started to produce a putter in which a simulated pattern of a golf ball shape and size is engraved. Alternatively, the inside of a golf ball is radiated using a laser pointer.

For example, Korean Patent Application Publication No. 2003-0094543 (Patent Document 1) disclosed a golf putter using a laser pointer, wherein a laser indicator is attached to one side of the golf putter in order to improve a beginner's self-confidence and accuracy for putting through practices so that the progress direction of a golf ball can be predicted.

In addition, there were disclosed U.S. Pat. No. 7,118,488 B2 entitled “Training putter with laser line projecting device” (Patent Document 2) and Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 1994-036664 entitled “Laser club for golf practices” (Patent Document 3).

However, the conventional methods (Patent Document 1 to Patent Document 3) of radiating a laser indicator or a laser line have a problem in that a golfer's concentration is low because the laser line is identified with the naked eye and thus moved along with a golf club movement of the putter.

Furthermore, the conventional methods have problems in that power of a laser radiation device or laser indicator cannot be automatically controlled, it is inconvenient to use because a user must manually turn on or off power by manipulating a switch, and a cost increases due to the frequent purchase of a battery because battery consumption is great and the replacement cycle of the battery is short.

PRIOR ART DOCUMENT Patent Document

1. Korean Patent No. 10-0591886 (Jun. 21, 2006)

2. U.S. Pat. No. 7,118,488 B2 (Oct. 10, 2006)

3. Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 1994-036664 (May 17, 1994)

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the present invention has been made keeping in mind the above problems occurring in the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a laser golf putter having a power saving function and a method for reducing power thereof, wherein a point of a laser line emitted from a laser pointer is indicated at two places of the top of a golf ball and a target of the golf ball or the ground in a moving path toward the target, a laser pointer device whose laser line not identified with the naked eye other than two points (i.e., a point at the top of the golf ball and a point on the ground) is applied, and power of the laser pointer is automatically turned off depending on a given condition.

In an embodiment, a laser golf putter equipped with a power saving module includes a golf putter equipped with a putter head at the bottom of a putter shaft, a laser pointer provided in the putter head to emit a laser beam not identified with a naked eye, a golf ball sensor provided in the putter head to detect a golf ball in front of the putter head, and a switching controller configured to control the driving of the laser pointer in response to the detection of the golf ball sensor. The laser pointer is configured to indicate a first point when the laser beam reaches the center of top of the golf ball and simultaneously indicates a second point when the laser beam reaches a target of the golf ball or the ground in the moving path of the golf ball. The switching controller turns off the laser pointer after the lapse of a set time in the state in which the laser pointer is an ON state when the golf ball is identified.

In an embodiment, a method of reducing power of a laser golf putter equipped with a power saving module includes a start step of supplying, by a golfer, power to a golf ball sensor and a laser pointer provided in a golf putter by turning on a switch provided in the golf putter, a golf ball sensing step of detecting, by the golf ball sensor, whether a golf ball is positioned in front of a putter head, and a laser pointer ON step of emitting a laser beam by turning on the laser pointer when the golf ball is detected in the golf ball sensing step. The laser pointer is configured to indicate a first point when the laser beam reaches the center of top of the golf ball and simultaneously indicates a second point when the laser beam reaches a target of the golf ball or the ground in the moving path of the golf ball.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a major part (e.g., head part) of a laser golf putter according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows the state in which the laser golf putter according to an embodiment of the present invention is used.

FIG. 3 shows the configuration of the power saving module of the laser golf putter according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an operation of the power saving module of the laser golf putter according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

100: golf putter 10: putter head 11: virtual middle line 20: laser pointer 30: golf ball sensor 40: golf ball 210: power 220: switch 230: switching controller S10: golf ball sensing step S20: laser pointer ON step S30: time check step S40: laser pointer OFF step P1: first point P2: second point R1: laser beam R2: golf ball moving path

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention may be changed in various manners and may have various embodiments. Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention are illustrated and the present invention is described in detail based on the embodiments. However, this is not intended to limit the present invention to illustrated configurations, and the spirit and technical scope of the present invention include common changes, equivalents and/or substitutes of the illustrated forms.

Furthermore, in the entire specification, when it is described that one part is “connected” to the other part, the one part may be “directly connected” to the other part or may be “indirectly connected” to the other part with an element interposed therebetween. When it is said that an element is “included”, the word “include” means that other element may be added not the exclusion of other element, unless explicitly described to the contrary.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a major part (e.g., head part) of a laser golf putter according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 shows the state in which the laser golf putter according to an embodiment of the present invention is used. FIG. 3 shows the configuration of the power saving module of the laser golf putter according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, the laser golf putter 100 equipped with a power saving module according to an embodiment of the present invention commonly includes a putter head 10 at the bottom of a putter shaft (it may include a grip).

Furthermore, the putter head 10 is equipped with a laser pointer 20 and a golf ball sensor 30. The golf putter 100 includes a switching controller 230.

The laser pointer 20 functions to emit a laser beam not identified with the naked eye. That is, a laser beam emitted from the laser pointer 20 is not seen with the naked eye, and a corresponding point is implemented when the laser beam reaches a target, such as a golf ball 40 or the ground.

The golf ball sensor 30 functions to sense whether the golf ball 40 is positioned at the front (i.e., golf ball hit direction) of the putter head 10.

A method of identifying a golf ball using the golf ball sensor 30 may be performed by detecting a spherical shape, such as a common golf ball, or recognizing a specific color of a golf ball, for example, white, blue, red, green, pink or silver.

The switching controller 230 controls the driving of the laser pointer 20 in response to the detection of a golf ball by the golf ball sensor 30.

That is, the laser pointer 20 is turned on to emit a laser beam or turned off in order to stop the emission of a laser beam.

The laser pointer 20 may be configured to indicate a first point P1 when a laser beam R1 reaches the center of the top of the golf ball 40 (i.e., the position of a reference line if the reference line is indicated at the top of the golf ball) and to indicate a second point P2 when the laser point reaches a target (i.e., hole) of the golf ball 40 or the ground in the moving path R2 of the golf ball.

In order to satisfy such a condition, the laser pointer 20 may be positioned at the height of 41 mm˜60 mm from the bottom of the putter head 10. The emission angle of the laser beam R1 may be downward inclined in the range of −0.1°˜−20°.

In this case, if the golf putter 100 is positioned on the side opposite the target direction of the golf ball 40 for a putting stroke and the laser beam R1 is emitted, 1%˜50% of the light source of the laser beam R1 may reach the top of the golf ball 40 to form the first point P1, and the remaining 50%˜99% of the laser beam R1 that passes through without forming the first point P1 may form the second point P2 at the target of the golf ball or in the moving path of the golf ball R2.

In this case, the laser pointer 20 and the golf ball sensor 30 may be disposed on the same line as the virtual middle line 11 of the putter head 10 or a middle line indicated in the golf head 10.

Accordingly, when a putting stroke is performed, the progress direction of a golf ball can be precisely predicted because whether the middle line 11 of the putter, the center (i.e., first point) of the golf ball and a target (i.e., second point) point are the same in a straight line can be easily confirmed.

Accordingly, the accuracy of putting of a user or caddie can be improved because a beginner not having experience can accurately confirm a putting line. Furthermore, a professional golfer can polish up perfect alignment and a putting stroke when performing a putting practice.

A battery may be embedded at a given location of the golf putter 100 (e.g., the grip part of the golf putter) in order to supply power 210 to the laser pointer 20, the golf ball sensor 30 and the switching controller 230.

Furthermore, a user manipulation switch 220 for supplying the power 210 to the laser pointer 20, the golf ball sensor 30 and the switching controller 230 or stopping the power thereto in response to a user' selection may be further provided at a given part of the golf putter 100.

In an embodiment for power-saving, the switching controller 230 may be configured to automatically turn on the laser pointer 20 when the golf ball sensor 30 detects the golf ball 40 based on a spherical form or color and to automatically turn off the laser pointer 20 after a lapse of a given time thereafter. Accordingly, the consumption of the power 210 attributable to the driving of the laser pointer 20 can be minimized because the unnecessary driving of the laser pointer 20 is prevented while the golf ball sensor 30 waits without detecting the golf ball 40 or until the golf ball 40 is recognized in the state in which the switch has been turned on.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an operation of the power saving module of the laser golf putter according to an embodiment of the present invention. The present invention may be further materialized through the power-saving method of the laser golf putter according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIGS. 2 to 4, the power-saving method of the laser golf putter 100 includes a start step of supplying, by a user, the power 210 to the golf ball sensor 30 and the laser pointer 20 by turning on the switch 220 of the golf putter 100.

When the power 210 is supplied to the golf ball sensor 30, the golf ball sensor 30 enters a golf ball sensing step S10 of detecting whether the golf ball 40 is position at the front of the putter head 10.

When the golf ball 40 is detected in the golf ball sensing step S10, the switching controller 230 performs a laser pointer ON step S20 of emitting the laser beam R1 by turning on the laser pointer 20.

When the switch 220 is turned on in the start step and the golf ball sensor 30 enters the golf ball sensing step S10, the switching controller 230 counts the time and compares the counted time with a preset time. If, as a result of the comparison, the counted time exceeds the preset time, the switching controller 230 performs an end step of stopping the power supplied to the golf ball sensor 30 and the laser pointer 20.

That is, if the golf ball 40 is not detected by the golf ball sensor 30 within a preset time although the switch 220 is turned on to supply the power 210, the switching controller 230 automatically stops the power 210 completely and enters the end step. Accordingly, consumption of standby power can be prevented.

In the laser pointer ON step S20, a golfer may set a putting direction by adjusting the direction of the putter head 10 so that part of the laser beam R1 emitted from the laser pointer 20 reaches the center of the top of the golf ball 40 and thus the first point P1 is indicated and at the same time, the remaining part of the laser beam R1, that is, a portion left after the first point P1 is formed, reaches a target of the golf ball or the ground in the moving path R2 of the golf ball and thus the second point P2 is indicated.

In accordance with such a method, the power 210 can be prevented from being unnecessarily wasted because the laser pointer 20 maintains the OFF state before the golf ball sensor 30 detects the golf ball 40 although the power is supplied to the laser pointer 20.

When the laser pointer 20 is turned on in the laser pointer ON step S20, the switching controller 230 performs a time check step S30.

In the time check step S30, the ON state time of the laser pointer 20 is counted, and the counted time is compared with a preset time. If, as a result of the comparison, the counted time is smaller than the preset time, the laser pointer ON step S20 continues to be performed so that the golfer can adjust the putting direction.

In contrast, in the time check step S30, if the counted time exceeds the preset time (e.g., 5˜10 seconds), the switching controller 230 performs a laser pointer OFF step S40 of turning off the laser pointer 20.

In accordance with such a method, the on state time of the laser pointer 20 may be limited to a preset time.

Accordingly, the power 210 can be prevented from being unnecessarily wasted because a golfer does not need to manually turn off the laser pointer 20 and the laser pointer 20 can be prevented from continuing to be turned on after a putting stroke is performed.

In accordance with the laser golf putter and the method for reducing power thereof according to the present invention, a putting stroke can be performed to move a golf ball in an accurate direction because a laser beam reaches two places at the top of the golf ball and a target of the golf ball or the ground in the moving path of the golf ball and implements two points.

Furthermore, a golfer can perform more accurate putting without reducing the golfer's concentration because a laser beam emitted from the laser pointer is not identified with the naked eye before it implements a point after the laser beam reaches a target.

Furthermore, the laser pointer maintains the OFF state until a golf ball is detected although the power switch of the laser pointer is the ON state, and becomes the ON state only when the golf ball is detected. The laser pointer is automatically turned off after a lapse of a given time in the ON state. Accordingly, power consumption can be minimized and power-saving performance can be significantly improved because the laser pointer can be limitedly used only before an actual putting stroke (swing) is performed.

Accordingly, after a user performs only an operation of turning on the switch in order to turn on the laser pointer, the switch is automatically turned off. Accordingly, a great financial gain can be obtained because the use of the putter is convenient and battery power can be maintained for a long period of time.

As described above, the present invention has been described in connection with the limited embodiments showing the technical spirit of the present invention, but the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments or shapes or numbers and may be modified and changed by a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention pertains without departing from the gist of the present invention, such as changing or mixing some of the elements of the embodiments. Such modification and changes should not be individually understood from the technical spirit or prospect of the present invention. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A laser golf putter equipped with a power saving module, comprising: a golf putter equipped with a putter head at a bottom of a putter shaft; a laser pointer provided in the putter head to emit a laser beam not identified with a naked eye; a golf ball sensor provided in the putter head to detect a golf ball in front of the putter head; and a switching controller configured to control a driving of the laser pointer in response to the detection of the golf ball sensor, wherein the switching controller turns off the laser pointer after a lapse of a set time in a state in which the laser pointer is an ON state when the golf ball is identified.
 2. The laser golf putter of claim 1, wherein the laser pointer is configured to indicate a first point when the laser beam reaches a center of a top of the golf ball and simultaneously indicates a second point when the laser beam reaches a target of the golf ball or a ground in a moving path of the golf ball.
 3. The laser golf putter of claim 1, wherein the golf ball sensor detects the golf ball based on a spherical shape of the golf ball or a color of the golf ball.
 4. The laser golf putter of claim 1, wherein the laser pointer and the golf ball sensor are disposed in a middle of the putter head.
 5. The laser golf putter of claim 1, further comprising a user manipulation switch provided in a given part of the golf putter to supply or stop power to the laser pointer, the golf ball sensor and the switching controller.
 6. A method of reducing power of a laser golf putter equipped with a power saving module, the method comprising: a start step of supplying, by a golfer, power to a golf ball sensor and a laser pointer provided in a golf putter by turning on a switch provided in the golf putter; a golf ball sensing step of detecting, by the golf ball sensor, whether a golf ball is positioned in front of a putter head; and a laser pointer ON step of emitting a laser beam by turning on the laser pointer when the golf ball is detected in the golf ball sensing step, wherein the laser beam is not identified with a naked eye until the laser beam implements a point.
 7. The method of claim 6, wherein the laser pointer is configured to indicate a first point when the laser beam reaches a center of a top of the golf ball and simultaneously indicates a second point when the laser beam reaches a target of the golf ball or a ground in a moving path of the golf ball.
 8. The method of claim 6, further comprising: a time check step of counting a time after the laser pointer ON step, comparing the counted time with a preset time, and maintaining the laser pointer ON step if the counted time is smaller than the preset time; and a laser pointer OFF step of stopping the emission of the laser beam by turning off the laser pointer when the counted time exceeds the preset time in the time check step.
 9. The method of claim 6, further comprising an end step of counting a time in the golf ball sensing step, comparing the counted time with a preset time, and stopping the power supplied to the golf ball sensor and the laser pointer when the counted time exceeds the preset time.
 10. The method of claim 6, wherein the golf ball sensing step comprises identifying a spherical shape the golf ball or a color of the golf ball. 